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Gilman Scholarship and Other Grants for American Students Going Abroad

Started by JessicaBoston · 19 août 2025 · 8 replies · 📖 Read as Guide
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JessicaBoston
Gilman alumna, studied in Dakar, Senegal
Joined: Feb 2018 Posts: 111
19 août 2025 #1
I won the Gilman Scholarship last year and just got back from Senegal. The application process is weirdly opaque so I wrote up everything I learned. Also covering Fund for Education Abroad, Boren Awards, and a few grants nobody talks about. Ask me anything about the process!

Pour aller plus loin, découvrez destinations dog-friendly en France.

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MikeFromMichigan
Gilman applicant, spring cycle
Joined: Oct 2022Posts: 33
August 22, 2025#2
Applied to Gilman last cycle and got rejected. This essay breakdown is exactly what I needed. My Statement of Purpose was way too generic. Rewriting now for the October deadline.
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SarahStudiesAbroad
Study abroad advisor, small liberal arts college
Joined: Oct 2022Posts: 169
August 25, 2025#3
As someone who reviews Gilman drafts every semester, the specificity point cannot be overstated. The essays that win always have concrete plans. Vague cultural immersion statements get screened out early.
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BackpackerJake
Community college transfer student
Joined: Jul 2019Posts: 22
August 28, 2025#4
Had no idea community college students were eligible for Gilman. I transferred to a four-year school last fall and assumed I missed the window. This changes my plans for next summer completely.
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NatalieVancouver
Canadian student, comparative perspective
Joined: Apr 2022Posts: 111
September 01, 2025#5
Interesting to see how US federal funding for study abroad works. Canada has nothing comparable at the federal level. Provincial grants exist but are tiny. American students have more options than they realize.
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OliviaOxford
Boren Fellowship recipient, Arabic studies
Joined: Jun 2024Posts: 161
September 04, 2025#6
The Boren service requirement is serious. You sign a legal agreement. But if government work is already your plan, it is basically a full ride plus a guaranteed job pipeline. Worth it for the right person.
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WanderlustEmma
FEA scholarship recipient, Ghana program
Joined: Feb 2020Posts: 157
September 08, 2025#7
FEA funded my semester in Ghana. The budget section of their application is where you win or lose. I itemized everything down to weekly grocery estimates. They want to see you have done the homework.
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RyanToronto
Financial aid office intern
Joined: May 2023Posts: 160
September 12, 2025#8
The state-level grants tip is gold. Our office in Texas has a list of six state-funded programs that most students never ask about. Always check with both your study abroad office AND financial aid office separately.
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AidanDublin
Irish exchange student in the US
Joined: Oct 2022Posts: 201
September 15, 2025#9
Reading this from the other side as a European student in the US. The amount of scholarship infrastructure available to American students going abroad is genuinely impressive. Use it.
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